The Official 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

[tarcone]

This Blues/Sharks is going to be a lot different than the previous 2, I think.

LET'S GO BLUES!!!!

[Dutch]

Lightning are showing some resilience with their patchwork lineup.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Dutch

Lightning are showing some resilience with their patchwork lineup.

I want to root for them more due to it, but the Drouin thing still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[EagleFan]

Eight minutes from overtime?

(with that said a goal will probably be scored a minute after I post this)

[EagleFan]

Overtime!

[EagleFan]

The Penguins needed that. Going down 0-2 after two home games can be a death blow.

[Dutch]

It's still amazing to me how much of a difference 5-on-5 is vs. 4-on-4. 2 scoreless periods followed by 45 seconds of mass chaos.

Oh well, glad we stole one from Pittsburgh now to take 2 at home.

[henry296]

Originally Posted by Dutch

It's still amazing to me how much of a difference 5-on-5 is vs. 4-on-4. 2 scoreless periods followed by 45 seconds of mass chaos.

Oh well, glad we stole one from Pittsburgh now to take 2 at home.

No 4 on 4 OT in the playoffs.

[Dutch]

Really? I had no idea! Now I know how Donovan McNabb felt.

[muns]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

The Penguins needed that. Going down 0-2 after two home games can be a death blow.

They haven't lost 2 in a row since January. What they are doing in that respect is pretty remarkable imho

[MizzouRah]

Someone let me know when the Blues start playing hockey.

[MizzouRah]

I'm going to make this SIMPLE. Hits were 41-21 Sharks tonight. I've said this many times, but HITTING is a HUGE key to success in the playoffs.

Quit dressing Paajarvi and get Reaves out there.

[Arles]

These last two games have been brutal. The Sharks look quicker, tougher and have better goaltending. The Blues need to do something to snap back into form in game 4 or this will be a quick series. I agree on Reaves.

[MacroGuru]

I am disappointed in the Blues, I have been cheering for them since they hit the playoffs this year.

However, it made me sick to see a ton of empty seats in the Sharks arena and their team is playing for the conference championship...it's sad..

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

I am disappointed in the Blues, I have been cheering for them since they hit the playoffs this year.

However, it made me sick to see a ton of empty seats in the Sharks arena and their team is playing for the conference championship...it's sad..

Could it have anything to do with the start time? That's never helpful to California teams in the postseason.

[Vince, Pt. II]

More to do with ownership. The team sold out every game for nearly 20 years. For whatever reason, when they blew up the coaching staff prior to last season and shipped out a bunch of role players, they lost a lot of faith with the fans.

[bronconick]

The Golden State Warriors being 35 miles away during a 73-9 season probably plays a role too.

[MizzouRah]

Well done tonight BLUES!!!

[tarcone]

Whew. I was worried about the Blues. Thought the series was over.

Nice rebound. New series.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Whew. I was worried about the Blues. Thought the series was over.

Nice rebound. New series.

We need THIS Blues team night in and night out! Hope Backes and Fabbri are ok for Game 5.

[EagleFan]

Back from a hellish trip, at least I can catch a little of a game 7.

[Vince, Pt. II]

It's mind-blowing to me that the Sharks are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

It's mind-blowing to me that the Sharks are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Vince, catch me up on why that is? Being a Pens fan, I don't get to see a lot of the Western Conf. I mean I know names, but have no idea about their style of play and so on.

[Vince, Pt. II]

The Sharks routinely come up with absurd ways to lose in the postseason. 4OT losses, losing a series after being up 3-0 and out-scoring your opponent 15-2 in the first three games, winning the President's Trophy and losing in the first round. The Sharks have a huge history of being a dominant regular season team and then choking in spectacular fashion in the playoffs. They made the postseason something like eleven straight seasons and only made the conference finals twice, boasting a 1-8 record in those finals.

With all of the postseason trauma, everyone expected them to blow up the team several times - and they never did. Last season they didn't make the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and they STILL didn't blow up the team. And yet somehow they are playing amazing hockey right now and have a shot at Lord Stanley's Cup.

I really, really hope they can beat the Penguins, not only because I've been a fan for 25 years, but because if there is anyone in all of sorts who "deserves" a championship, it's Joe Thornton. The guy has been fantastic for so long, is truly a class act off the ice, and his brilliance is largely ignored out here on the West Coast for a team who is consistently great but can't get it done in the post-season.

[MacroGuru]

Both the Lightning and the Blues looked like tired teams their last games while the Pens and the Sharks looked fresh and ready.

Lighting's coach attributed injuries at the end of the season and the playoffs on the wear and tear, for the Blues, I was confused...I felt they should have beat the Sharks..but hell, I don't know much about it other than I love watching Hockey.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

The Sharks routinely come up with absurd ways to lose in the postseason. 4OT losses, losing a series after being up 3-0 and out-scoring your opponent 15-2 in the first three games, winning the President's Trophy and losing in the first round. The Sharks have a huge history of being a dominant regular season team and then choking in spectacular fashion in the playoffs. They made the postseason something like eleven straight seasons and only made the conference finals twice, boasting a 1-8 record in those finals.

With all of the postseason trauma, everyone expected them to blow up the team several times - and they never did. Last season they didn't make the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and they STILL didn't blow up the team. And yet somehow they are playing amazing hockey right now and have a shot at Lord Stanley's Cup.

I really, really hope they can beat the Penguins, not only because I've been a fan for 25 years, but because if there is anyone in all of sorts who "deserves" a championship, it's Joe Thornton. The guy has been fantastic for so long, is truly a class act off the ice, and his brilliance is largely ignored out here on the West Coast for a team who is consistently great but can't get it done in the post-season.

I wish ya luck on the series Vince. Few more hours till we kick this bad boy off. Looking forward to seeing how the speed for the Pens matches up with the Strength of the Sharks.

[muns]

Sharks were very aggresive on that penalty kill. Was surprised at how far out they were going. Bothered the pens. Will be interesting to see if that continues and what and what adjustments are made

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[muns]

That escalated rather quickly

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[muns]

Pens dominated first period. San Jose dominated the 2nd. Hell of a game. All tied at 2

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[MizzouRah]

Wow.. Pens are a fast team. I never thought they would be up 2-0 in this series, well done!

[muns]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Wow.. Pens are a fast team. I never thought they would be up 2-0 in this series, well done!

It's been an interesting series so far. The sharks have had plenty of opportunities to do major damage and haven't taken total advantage of the situations they put themselves in. The Pens literally sat on their heels during the 3rd period, and were begging the sharks to win it. They were lucky the sharks only scored 1 goal there.

It will also be interesting to see what more adjustments get made going back to San Jose. The sharks started changing up their lines in the 3rd period as well, and it made a difference.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Wow.. Pens are a fast team. I never thought they would be up 2-0 in this series, well done!

And I thought San Jose was fast against the Blues.

Blues better get bigger or faster or both.

[MacroGuru]

If it wasn't for Malkin, I would be rooting for the Pens. But they sold their soul and brought him on.

[Vince, Pt. II]

It feels like the Penguins have dominated, but they only have two 1-goal wins to show for it. Then again, they have two wins to show for it. The Sharks really let an opportunity slip away last night - the third period was theirs for the taking, and five post shots notwithstanding, they still should have won. When Murray sat on the puck with about 15 seconds left, I thought they had it.

If the Sharks can make some adjustments and take care of home ice, I really like their chances. That being said, Pittsburgh has been faster and generally better the whole time so far, and they only need to win two out of five.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by tarcone

And I thought San Jose was fast against the Blues.

Blues better get bigger or faster or both.

No doubt.. I truly believe the Chicago series took a lot out of the Blues, then add another 7 games series vs Dallas and to me, they really looked wore down, minus a few players. Steen was hurt as well as Backes, so that didn't help.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Hertl out for game 3 with a lower body injury. This does not bode well for the Sharks, as he's basically been their best player throughout the first two games.

[muns]

Is it me or does the ice look dark? Like there isn't enough lightning?

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[kingfc22]

That was a much needed result. Hope this can go the distance.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Yeah, hard to feel anything but relief after that. They're still being outskated.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Yeah, hard to feel anything but relief after that. They're still being outskated.

While I agree they are still being outplayed, they had stretches where they had sustained offensive zone time which they didn't have in the first 2 games. It will be a series if they keep that up. While my Pens lost, it was a fun game to watch.

[britrock88]

Great series to watch. Glad SJ could exorcise some demons from their postseason history with a SCF win.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Trying to decide whether or not to drop $600 on a ticket to Game Four tonight or not. I've never been to any playoff hockey, let alone a Stanley Cup Finals game. And I've been to multiple World Series games, a Super Bowl, and I have tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals next Monday, as long as LeBron and Co. can pull out at least one win at home.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Trying to decide whether or not to drop $600 on a ticket to Game Four tonight or not. I've never been to any playoff hockey, let alone a Stanley Cup Finals game. And I've been to multiple World Series games, a Super Bowl, and I have tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals next Monday, as long as LeBron and Co. can pull out at least one win at home.

I would like to see a sweep but for your sake I'll pull for 1-1 in Cleveland so you can see the clincher. (not like my pulling for that will mean anything in the grand scheme of things)

[Vince, Pt. II]

So I'll call the evening a wash. Found tickets for $450 ($550-ish after fees), almost couldn't get in because the venue doesn't accept StubHub tickets on the phone. Had to call a friend and have them log into my email to send me a PDF of the tickets so they could scan them at the door. Watched the Sharks play incredibly uninspired hockey for two periods, but the excitement of the Stanley Cup Finals and a mid-third period goal made the game not a total loss. Sat next to a Pittsburgh Penguins fan the entire game, who happened to be young, female, single, and very pretty. We hit it off well, and I left with her phone number.

All in all, a pretty good night, if not for terrible hockey.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

who happened to be young, female, single, and very pretty. We hit it off well, and I left with her phone number.

Nice.

[Vince, Pt. II]

As for actual hockey analysis (what little I could pay attention to with a cute girl who was enjoyable to talk to sitting next to me):

Sharks played possibly their best game of the series tonight, which is ironic when you look at the result. There were long stretches of great hockey, but a few blown coverages and a Penguins team that just can't seem to fail to take advantage of every opportunity they are given and you're down 3-1. The Sharks had a ton of opportunities tonight, and again couldn't capitalize on any of them. Most of that is great goaltending by Murray and some fantastic defense by the Penguins, to be fair. Watching this series I've been struck by how effortless almost everything the Penguins do looks. They seem to just easily get into the Sharks' zone, or to clear it from their own. Meanwhile, the Sharks need to bust their ass to get anything done.

Pavelski has absolutely disappeared in this series, and Thornton isn't really doing a ton more. I'm much less confident in my analysis of hockey defensemen, but it seems like Vlasic has also been rather sub-par the whole time. I don't know hockey well enough to be able to spot if that's the Penguins' game plan or if it is just the players not stepping up when necessary. It's rather disappointing to see where the series has gone, because I think Martin Jones has been fantastic, and his defense has left him out to dry several times. It feels like with a couple of different bounces (off the post, specifically) and it would be a completely different series. Which is weird, because I feel like the Penguins have completely out-classed the Sharks nearly the entire series.

Edit: I feel like emphasizing how incredible the Penguins defense has been. The Sharks have gotten so incredibly few clean looks it is absurd. It seems that every time they try to put a puck on net there is someone (or several someones) in the way. The Sharks aren't playing terrible hockey - and the Penguins are just denying them everything.

[Dutch]

Reminds me of how I felt watching the Lightning/Penguins series. They are fast and everywhere.

[muns]

Already a very exciting game. Can't believe how this one started

[cartman]

Originally Posted by muns

Already a very exciting game. Can't believe how this one started

+1

Four goals in the first 6 minutes!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Where the f&$% are the penalty calls against Pittsburgh???? Two hooks go uncalled.